Solar Decathlon 2011, 2013, US DOE COMPETITIONS
I cannot forget the first building I designed and built collaboratively with my hands and friends during 2009–2011. Our experience was unique because our lead part-time faculty, a busy full-time architect, entrusted us with a list of local contacts saying, “Go, figure.” We—liberal arts students—designed and built the entire award-winning house. We built and rebuilt this 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom modular home 3 times: in Vermont on our parking lot, in Washington, DC for the competition, back at our university where it is now a student dormitory. I worked on all: framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, PV, solar-thermal, HVAC, fire protection, finishes.
During 8 exhibition days on the National Mall Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, over 16000 visitors learned from us about environmentally, socially, economically responsible living. To paraphrase our mentor Bill McKibben, “It is not important just how many kilowatt-hours we generate, but also how many inspiring connections we make.” Thus, I place importance on qualitative evaluation criteria as well as on quantitative ones.
’Self-Reliance’ is a comfortable, functional, family home inspired by the timeless New England farmhouse (#1–#10). The home’s layout, gable form and local materials with low embodied energies relate to Vermont’s vernacular tradition, but its details reveal more modern approach. The design distills classic domestic architecture to its elements, resulting in a simple, solid shelter that fosters family living. The net-zero home integrates the latest in affordable technologies to supplement passive energy systems.
Simple solutions and systems can offer a comparable level of comfort that more complex, energy-consuming systems provide. Sustainability extends beyond renewable energy. Embodied energy, functionality, biodegradability, environmental safety and modularity are balanced. From the structure to its finishes, Self-Reliance features locally-harvested natural materials such as structural timber and sugar maple flooring from certified Middlebury's lands, heathermoor slate from southern Vermont, and wood finishes from northern Vermont, USA.
I was a team co-leader of this student-run full-scale project. I especially enjoyed leading a student group working on construction documentation in Revit Architecture and MEP software. Since I could coordinate how all structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and design components fitted in together, I thoroughly directed the design of interior and exterior public and private spaces such as:
After coming back from the competition in Washington, DC, I gathered a group of new students and several experienced 2011 decathletes to lobby and work closely with the university's administration in order to prepare a new proposal for SD 2013. Our RFP (request for proposal) was selected as a SD 2013 finalist. I mentored the new team. I tutored drafting to new students and consulted BIM (building information modeling) until the final as-build CD (construction documentation) submission (#11). Having advanced my Revit skills, I was hired by Davis Brody Bond to assist with projects in DC, namely NMAAHC.
Below is a video walkthrough of our Self-Reliance home which is now a student dormitory. Additional videos (architecture, engineering, sales, construction) are available upon request. For the best viewing experience, watch the video in 720p HD (high definition).
During 8 exhibition days on the National Mall Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, over 16000 visitors learned from us about environmentally, socially, economically responsible living. To paraphrase our mentor Bill McKibben, “It is not important just how many kilowatt-hours we generate, but also how many inspiring connections we make.” Thus, I place importance on qualitative evaluation criteria as well as on quantitative ones.
’Self-Reliance’ is a comfortable, functional, family home inspired by the timeless New England farmhouse (#1–#10). The home’s layout, gable form and local materials with low embodied energies relate to Vermont’s vernacular tradition, but its details reveal more modern approach. The design distills classic domestic architecture to its elements, resulting in a simple, solid shelter that fosters family living. The net-zero home integrates the latest in affordable technologies to supplement passive energy systems.
Simple solutions and systems can offer a comparable level of comfort that more complex, energy-consuming systems provide. Sustainability extends beyond renewable energy. Embodied energy, functionality, biodegradability, environmental safety and modularity are balanced. From the structure to its finishes, Self-Reliance features locally-harvested natural materials such as structural timber and sugar maple flooring from certified Middlebury's lands, heathermoor slate from southern Vermont, and wood finishes from northern Vermont, USA.
I was a team co-leader of this student-run full-scale project. I especially enjoyed leading a student group working on construction documentation in Revit Architecture and MEP software. Since I could coordinate how all structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and design components fitted in together, I thoroughly directed the design of interior and exterior public and private spaces such as:
- Rhythmic southern glazing, extension of our deck towards the street, and a subtle bench (ledge) inviting passerby to interact.
- Green house shelving, and an open kitchen island with a library side for interactive family experience.
- Continuous interior flooring finish on walls to emphasize spaciousness of the traditional gable form.
After coming back from the competition in Washington, DC, I gathered a group of new students and several experienced 2011 decathletes to lobby and work closely with the university's administration in order to prepare a new proposal for SD 2013. Our RFP (request for proposal) was selected as a SD 2013 finalist. I mentored the new team. I tutored drafting to new students and consulted BIM (building information modeling) until the final as-build CD (construction documentation) submission (#11). Having advanced my Revit skills, I was hired by Davis Brody Bond to assist with projects in DC, namely NMAAHC.
Below is a video walkthrough of our Self-Reliance home which is now a student dormitory. Additional videos (architecture, engineering, sales, construction) are available upon request. For the best viewing experience, watch the video in 720p HD (high definition).
